Elias Rodriguez

Clarinet

Hometown: Dallas, TXAlma maters: Baylor University, University of MichiganAwards/Competitions: 1st Prize, 2017 TŌN Concerto Competition; Semifinalist, 2017 Matthew Ruggiero International Clarinet Competition; Finalist, 2016 Pheonix Symphony Orchestra 2nd Clarinet Audition; National solo debut at age 16, on NPR’s “From the Top”; 1st Chair Overall, 2007 Texas All-State auditionsAppearances: Le Domaine Forget, Canada, 2017; The Banff Centre, Canada, 2016; YOA Orchestra of the Americas, Eastern Canada Tour, 2015; Orchestre de la Francophonie, Canada, 2015; American Wind Symphony Orchestra, 2010; Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, 2008Favorite composer fact: Shostakovich was a perfectionist not only in music, but in his personal life. According to his daughter, he was “obsessed with cleanliness;” he synchronized the clocks in his apartment, and he would regularly send cards to himself to test how well the postal service was working.Favorite fact about your instrument: It was manufactured in my favorite city: Paris, France.Last book read: Assimil: New French with Ease
Piece of advice for a young classical musician: If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.Time travel destination: The 1920s because of Tin Pan Alley, George and Ira Gershwin, and their influential role in American jazz music.